UI (User Interface) Design
UI design is a graphical user interface and is the process of creating interface designs in software(Figma, Adobe XD, etc…) with a focus on visual 'looks and how it is being displayed'. UI designers are more focused on designing easy-to-use or navigate software for all types of digital products like websites and mobile applications. They determine how a product will look like, how it is positioned, where buttons should be, animations, and color schemes. They create the look and feel of a product.
Skills of a UI designer:
- Branding
- Visual design, color, typography, and layouts
- Design research and UI prototyping.
- Animations and interaction
UX (User Experience) Design
UX is the process of supporting user behavior by usability, usefulness, and desirability. UX requires a cross-discipline perspective that considers multiple aspects of the brand or product. User Experience develops the experience of a product or service. It is the interaction of a product designed by the UI designer.
UX designers are keen on the usability of a product, and what should connect to what.
A UX designer is more concerned if the user can interact effectively with a product and make it easier to navigate and use the product. They determine the function and structure of an interface, by creating wireframes and getting feedback to add more functionality to their products.
Skills of a UX designer:
- User research: you must learn the art of researching, be it researching about the product you're about to work on or how certain things will work.
- Customer and competitor analysis:
- Wireframing and UI prototyping: learn how to create a structure for your product before embarking on designing it and connecting buttons and so on.
- Testing and iteration
- Coordinating with UI designers and developers
- Analysis and ilteration
User Interface and User Experience Design
UI and UX designers work together to create usable, easy-to-navigate, and beautiful products. You can be a UI/UX designer or be one of them and let another do his/her job.
A product designer identifies the problem, comes up with a possible solution, and shares it with the team. The UX designer does user research and creates wireframes and the UI designer designs what has been laid out.
General skills for UI/UX designers:
- Collaboration: learn to work with teams effectively.
- Wireframing and UI prototyping: learn how to create a structure for your product before embarking on designing it and connecting buttons and so on.
- Visual Communication
- User empathy
- Curiosity
- Communication
- Interaction design
Tools used by Designers are:
- Figma
- Adobe XD
- InVision Studio
- Sketch
- Origami Studio
- Proto.io and many more.
They could also layout their designs with mockups like: Angle Mockup, Presently and so many others. "These are the ones I have worked with"
So in conclusion:
UI designers create emotional connections and make beautiful interfaces while UX designers make interfaces beautiful and help users accomplish goals.
They both need to work together to give the users great interfaces to admire and a lasting experience interacting with the products.
Thank You!